KEXP Announces 8 Layoffs, Citing Pandemic's Economic Impact

SEATTLE, WA — Seattle's KEXP is cutting eight positions, as the donor-backed music radio station and non-profit arts organization faces a 17 percent shortfall in annual revenue.

In an e-mail sent to volunteers Friday morning, KEXP Executive Director Tom Mara said the layoffs would affect full-time-equivalent positions in the guest services, business support, executive leadership, engagement and software teams. Mara said approximately 80 percent of the non-profit's budget covers payroll, and cuts in other areas were already exhausted and insufficient to cover the gap.

"While we have been taking steps to mitigate the financial impact Covid-19 has on the organization, they have not been sufficient to offset losses relating to our business support and in-person events revenue," Mara wrote. "Most of KEXP's on-air underwriting support comes from industries that have themselves been heavily disrupted by COVID — music, performing arts, sports and entertainment, restaurants, travel. We cannot know when, or if, those industries will return to a pre-covid 'normal.'"

According to the e-mail, all impacted employees will receive severance packages and health benefits through the end of the year. The job reductions are expected to last at least through the end of 2021. Mara said the projected shortfall of more than $1.8 million was too high an amount to "suddenly shift to our donor community," especially as so many are struggling themselves.

To get through the next few years, the non-profit said it will draw more heavily on reserve and endowment funds to ensure long-term sustainability.

"As this crisis continues to deepen, and the consequences continue to unfold, we find ourselves in a position of having to say goodbye to exemplary staff who believe in and strongly upheld KEXP's mission with professionalism and hear," Mara said. "They are our friends and colleagues and we are saddened to see them go."

You can donate to KEXP here.